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We
worship in the unprogrammed Quaker tradition in which we gather in silent,
expectant waiting in the presence of the Divine. There is no set order of
service, which means that there is no pre-arranged hymn singing, Bible reading
or sermon. Instead, individually and as a gathered group, we still our minds
and bodies and open ourselves to the Holy Spirit. This kind of worship is not
always an easy process. It requires practice and patience. But those who wait
in the Light with open hearts are in the presence of God.
Most
people find it easiest to center in the Spirit with practice, both by attending
meeting for worship regularly, and by their spiritual practices throughout the
week.
We believe that the Holy
Spirit leads us in worship as we gather and pray together in silence. As we
center in the Spirit, we listen for the voice of God that dwells within each of
us. Sometimes, the Spirit leads one or more attenders to share a spiritual
message out of the silence. This is known as vocal ministry, God’s Word for us
gathered here today.
Vocal
ministry, or speaking during worship, does not always happen. When it does, it
arises from an inward spiritual prompting that is insistent, direct, and
difficult to resist. In waiting before we speak, we pray for discernment to
know if the message is given by the Spirit and has ripened into ministry. It is
helpful to prayerfully consider queries such as the following when discerning
whether you are called to share vocal ministry:
After
vocal ministry is spoken, we return to the silence and hold the words in prayer
as we try to discern what God is saying to us individually and as a worshipping
group.
·
Is this a
message from the Divine Spirit, or is it simply my own thoughts?
·
Does this
message need to be spoken now?
·
Is this message
meant to be shared in meeting for worship or in another setting?
After
about an hour, we close meeting by joining hands (a pre-appointed person will
begin our closing circle). Then we introduce ourselves and have a time to share
joys, sorrows and after-thoughts. We also share announcements that might be of
interest to the group. All are invited
for fellowship and a simple dinner at 144 Lake George Avenue following worship.
If you have questions, feel
free to ask. Literature about Quakers is also available. Or, check out these
websites: www.nyym.org, www.fgcquaker.org or www.pym.org.
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“And this is the manner of their
worship. They are to wait upon the Lord, to meet in the silence of flesh, and to watch for the stirrings of his life, and
the breaking forth of his power amongst them. And in the breakings forth of that power they may pray, speak, exhort, rebuke,
sin, or mourn, and so on, according as the spirit teaches, requires, and gives utterance. But if the spirit do not require
to speak, and give to utter, then everyone is to sit still in his place (in his heavenly place I mean) feeling his own measure,
feeding there-upon, receiving there from (Into his spirit) what the Lord giveth. Now in this is edifying, pure edifying, precious
edifying; his soul who thus waits is hereby particularly edified by the spirit of the Lord at every meeting.”
“…we wait on the Lord, either to feel him in words, or in silence of spirit without
words, as he pleaseth.”
Isaac Pennington
17th Century Quaker
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